Method of making findings for pin stems



Nov. 12,

- E. MOREHOUSE 2,221,429-

METHOD OF MAKING FINDINGS FOR PIN STEMS Filed April 29, 1939 7 A un-w IN VEN TOR.

Ewe/la fi/orefiozzse Patented Nov. 12, 1940 PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF MAKING FINDINGS FOR PIN STEMS Eugene Morehouse, Providence, R. I., assignor to B. A. Ballou & 00., Inc., a corporation of Rhode Island Application April 29, 1939, Serial No. 270,887

3 Claims. (01. 29-1605) This invention relates to a pin stem finding such, for instance, as a joint or catch for the pin stem and has for one of its objects to provide a method by which such findings may be auto- 6 matically formed whereby the cost of operation may be materially reduced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pin stem finding from relatively thin sheet stock by the dapping of the stock to form recesses or projections which may have interfitting rotatory relation one with the other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for the formation of pin stem findings whereby the handling of the parts is reduced to a minimum.

Another. object of the invention is to provide slots in the parts of the findings prior to their formation into finished shape which enables the slots to be more advantageously formed so that the slots are in the correct position after folding or formation of the parts into final shape.

A further object of the invention is to provide an article which will require a minimum quantity of stock and yet will be such as to perform the functions desired, the saving of the stock being particularly important in connection with a precious metal such as gold.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended'claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a pin stem catch.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the rotor part of the catch.

Fig. 4 shows a strip of sheet stock with the various operations performed upon it for the formation of the rotor shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section view on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the rotor as cut from the sheet stock after having serially performed upon it the various operations.

Fig. 7 is a section on line l-'l of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of strip stock having serially performed upon it various operations for the formation of the non-rotating part of the safety catch.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of this part of the pin stem finding out from the strip shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a section on line Ill-Ill of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the non-rotating part of the catch after bent into finished form.

In the formation of pin stem findings such, for instance, as a joint or the catch here illustrated for holding the pointed end of the pin stem after it has pierced the fabric to which the article carrying it is to be attached, it is usual to provide two parts, one a stationary part fixed to the article and the other a rotating part which locks the pointed end of the stem in the catch. These parts are frequently formed by striking, squashing, or causing the metal to flow to provide different parts in relief or projections on one part which extend into the other and so far as I am aware the rotor part which has trunnions on it to rotate in bearings always has been formed in this manner. This manner of operation necessitates the frequent handling of the parts which are very small and necessarily consumes a considerable amount of time. In order to avoid the frequent handling and also to provide the rotor in a new and less expensive manner, as well as to form in a like manner the non-rotating part of the catch, I have arranged to mechanically and automatically perform a series of operations on a strip of sheet metal which reverses the usual process of the steps performed upon the catch parts; that is, usually the slotting or burring is one of the last operations, whereas in the method as I perform.

it this slotting or burring is-one of the first operations and is performed in the strip of stock as it is fed forwardly even before the operation of clapping or embossing whereby the stock is stretched to provide an extension on one side and a recess on the other. The manner of performing this dapping is such that the slots are not distorted to such an extent as to be consequential. These steps may be performed either in two operations or in a single operation depending upon certain qualities of the metal and the depth of draw desired and after these operations are performed the blank is cut from the strip of sheet stock and is then folded into final shape. This method of opera-tion may exist for both parts of the catch and when finished they will fit together with the pin receiving slot located to receive the pin stem enabling them to perform their desired rotatory function, and the following is a more detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention, illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished.

With reference to the drawing, [5 designates a strip of sheet stock which may be fed forwardly automatically in a machine, step by step, to have different operations performed at different stations upon it. The first operation is that of piercing openings [6, l6 and I! which slotting will be performed at the first station. The strip is then fed forwardly to have at the next station a dapping operation performed which is that of deflecting the stock as shown at It so as to provide a projection as at IS on one side and recess as at 20 on the other. If the deflection is to be of any substantial extent or in certain materials it may be desirable to have the deflection partly formed at one station and then further and completely formed at another station. I, however, illustrate but one station for performing the entire dapping or embossing. By dapping I mean a drawing operation on the'stock. At the next station the blank is cut from the sheet stock. This blank is illustrated as at 2! in place in the strip of sheet stock but shown as severed along thelines 22. This severed blank Will drop from the sheet and will be in the form as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 which are on a larger scale.

The next operation is that of bending, which bending will occur at the midportion designated 23 so as to dispose the halves back to back with the projecting portions E9. of the deflection l8 extending outwardly from-each other; that is, when the structure in Fig. 6 is folded at the point 23, as shown in Fig. 3, the two portions 2d and 24 will be brought together in a back to back relation with the projections is extending oppositely. The folded portions 25 provide finger pieces for the rotor for operating the rotor in a customary manner to and from locked position. Thus, I have provided from sheet stock a rotor having a hollow formation with projections to be rotatably supported in bearings as will more presently appear.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated a strip of sheet stock 39 from which to form the stationary part of the catch. The procedure is similar to that above described. I first pierce the stock as at 8|, 3! at the first station. At the next station, as the strip is fed forward, a dapping or embossing operation is performed as at 32, 32, 33, 33. These dapping operations may be made at the same time to their desired extent or may be made a portion at one time and a portion at another time depending upon the work operated upon and other mechanical conditions. At the next station the blanking ofa piece from the sheet occurs along the severing line 34 providing blank .35 which is illustrated in somewhat greater detail by reason. of the showing of the opposite side of the blank in Fig. 9 or in section as shown in Fig. 10.

After the blank shown in Fig. 9 is formed a bending operation occurs to provide a bottom wall 3% with ears or side walls 37, bent up as at 38, 38' from the bottom wall to extend in substantially parallel relation. These ears each bulge outwardly as at 39 by reason of the dapping 33, 33 to enlarge the bottom wall of the base which also extends longitudinally or parallel with the ears beyond the ears whereby area enlarged to the desired extent for soldering is provided. These ears in the dapping as at 32' provide rotor bearings 4i? for the trunnions E9 of the rotor as shown in Fig. 3, thus this rotor may be positioned between the ears 3?, 3i" and upon closing these ears together the rotor will be positioned in place as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 so that it may be rocked back and forth, to and from open or locked position.

it comes from the automatic operation.

In this performing of operations as the strips I or 30 are fed forwardly, the operations at all of the stations are performed at the same time; that is, when the finished blank is cut from the strip at the last station, simultaneously therewith a dapping operation occurs at the dapping station and a piercing operation occurs at the piercing station, however, all upon different portions of the strip. Each portion of the strip which is to become a blank is serially operated upon so the steps are performed one after the other on this particular portion.

From the above it will be apparent that I have provided all of the operations necessary upon either of the parts of the catch except the bending, all automatically and without the necessity of handling the parts for the various operations. The blank is all formed except for bending when The bending of the rotor may be performed in one operation and the bending of the part which carries it may be made partially with the rotor positioned in place and then bending completed for the assembly of the catches simply and quickly.

It will be apparent that this method such as performed upon the stationary part of the'catch may also be similarly used for the formation of a pin stem joint, these being closely analogous both from the standpoint of structure and use.

The foregoing description is. directed towards the method and construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reverse the privilege of resorting to all the equivalent changes to which the construction and method are susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of forming a finding member from a sheet of stock which comprises piercing a pair of openings in the sheet of stock, each longer than necessary in the finished article, dapping the stock around a portion of each opening, punching out a blank from said sheet stock including the dapped portion by cutting across said openings and then folding said blank to locate the dapped portions in face to face arrangement.

2. The method of forming a finding member from a sheet of stock which comprises piercing a pair of openings in the sheet of stock, each longer than necessary in the finished article, dapping the stock around a portion of each opening, punching out a blank from said sheet of stock including the dapped portion by cutting across said openings and then folding said blank to locate the dapped portions in contiguous op posed relation.

3. The method of forming a finding member from a sheet of stock which comprises piercing a pair of openings in the sheet of stock, each longer than necessary in the finished article,

dapping the stock around a portion of each opening, punching out a blank from said sheet of stock including the dapped portion by cutting across said openings and then folding said blank to locate the dapped portions in spaced opposed relation.

EUGENE MOBEI-IOUSE. 

